46 CFR 11.317: STCW Master endorsement, under 500 GT near-coastal

Last reviewed: October 14, 2026

This section sets the requirements for an STCW endorsement as Master of vessels of less than 500 GT limited to near-coastal waters. An applicant must show 12 months of service as OICNW, meet the standard of competence, and complete approved training. It also covers renewals, exemptions and entry paths from national endorsements.

Applies toApplicants for an STCW endorsement as Master of vessels of less than 500 GT limited to near-coastal waters, including renewal candidates and seafarers holding certain national officer endorsements.

What it says

  1. An applicant must provide evidence of 12 months of service as OICNW on vessels operating in oceans, near-coastal waters, and/or Great Lakes.

    46 CFR 11.317(a)(1)“Provide evidence of 12 months of service as OICNW, on vessels operating in oceans, near-coastal waters, and/or Great Lakes.”

  2. Service on inland waters, bays, or sounds that are navigable waters of the United States may be substituted for up to 50 percent of the total required service.

    46 CFR 11.317(a)(1)“Service on inland waters, bays, or sounds that are navigable waters of the United States may be substituted for up to 50 percent of the total required service.”

  3. Experience gained in the engine department on vessels may be creditable for up to 1 month of the service requirements.

    46 CFR 11.317(a)(1)“Experience gained in the engine department on vessels may be creditable for up to 1 month of the service requirements;”

  4. An applicant must provide evidence of meeting the standard of competence specified in Section A-II/3 of the STCW Code.

    46 CFR 11.317(a)(2)“Provide evidence of meeting the standard of competence specified in Section A-II/3 of the STCW Code (incorporated by reference, see § 11.102);”

  5. For a renewal to be valid on or after January 1, 2017, each candidate must provide evidence of approved training in leadership and managerial skills, and in ECDIS if serving on a vessel with this equipment.

    46 CFR 11.317(b)“For a renewal of an STCW endorsement as Master of vessels of less than 500 GT limited to near-coastal waters to be valid on or after January 1, 2017”

  6. The Coast Guard may exempt an applicant from any individual knowledge, understanding, and proficiency required in Section A-II/3 of the STCW Code. The Coast Guard must approve these exemptions based upon vessel type, and the credential may include a corresponding limitation.

    46 CFR 11.317(c)“The Coast Guard may exempt an applicant from meeting any individual knowledge, understanding, and proficiency required in Section A-II/3 of the STCW Code.”

Common questions

How much sea service do I need for an STCW Master endorsement under 500 GT near-coastal?

An applicant must provide evidence of 12 months of service as OICNW on vessels operating in oceans, near-coastal waters, and/or Great Lakes. Service on certain inland waters may substitute for up to 50 percent of it.

“Provide evidence of 12 months of service as OICNW, on vessels operating in oceans, near-coastal waters, and/or Great Lakes.”

Can inland service count toward the required service for this Master endorsement?

Yes. Service on inland waters, bays, or sounds that are navigable waters of the United States may be substituted for up to 50 percent of the total required service.

“Service on inland waters, bays, or sounds that are navigable waters of the United States may be substituted for up to 50 percent of the total required service.”

Can the Coast Guard exempt me from parts of the STCW competence standard?

Yes. The Coast Guard may exempt an applicant from any individual knowledge, understanding, and proficiency required in Section A-II/3 of the STCW Code, and the credential may include a corresponding limitation.

“The Coast Guard may exempt an applicant from meeting any individual knowledge, understanding, and proficiency required in Section A-II/3 of the STCW Code.”

The text of 46 CFR 11.317

Electronic Code of Federal Regulations (eCFR), current as of October 1, 2026 · Read it on eCFR

Requirements to qualify for an STCW endorsement as Master of vessels of less than 500 GT limited to near-coastal waters (management level)

Link to an amendment published at 91 FR 60882, Sept. 25, 2026.

(a) To qualify for an STCW endorsement as Master, an applicant must—

(1) Provide evidence of 12 months of service as OICNW, on vessels operating in oceans, near-coastal waters, and/or Great Lakes. Service on inland waters, bays, or sounds that are navigable waters of the United States may be substituted for up to 50 percent of the total required service. Experience gained in the engine department on vessels may be creditable for up to 1 month of the service requirements;

(2) Provide evidence of meeting the standard of competence specified in Section A-II/3 of the STCW Code (incorporated by reference, see § 11.102); and

(3) Provide evidence of having satisfactorily completed approved training in the following subject areas:

(i) Medical First-aid Provider.

(ii) Basic and Advanced Firefighting in accordance with § 11.303.

(iii) Proficiency in Survival Craft and Rescue Boats other than Fast Rescue Boats (PSC) or Proficiency in Survival Craft and Rescue Boats other than Lifeboats and Fast Rescue Boats (PSC-Limited).

(iv) Radar Observer, if serving on a vessel with this equipment.

(v) Leadership and managerial skills.

(vi) ECDIS, if serving on a vessel with this equipment.

(vii) Radar Observer, if serving on a vessel with this equipment.

(viii) ARPA, if serving on a vessel with this equipment.

(b) For a renewal of an STCW endorsement as Master of vessels of less than 500 GT limited to near-coastal waters to be valid on or after January 1, 2017, each candidate must provide evidence of successful completion of approved training in the following:

(1) Leadership and managerial skills.

(2) ECDIS, if serving on a vessel with this equipment.

(c) The Coast Guard may exempt an applicant from meeting any individual knowledge, understanding, and proficiency required in Section A-II/3 of the STCW Code. These exemptions must be approved by the Coast Guard based upon vessel type. Under these circumstances, the credential may include a corresponding limitation.

(d) Seafarers with one of the following national officer endorsements are eligible to apply for this endorsement upon completion of the requirements in the following table:

Table 1 to § 11.317(d)—STCW Endorsement as Master of Vessels of Less Than 500 GT Limited to Near-Coastal Waters Entry path from national endorsements Sea service under authority of the endorsement 1 Competence—STCW Table A-II/3 2 Training required by this section 3 Mate oceans or near-coastal, less than 500 GRT None Yes Yes. Mate of Towing Vessels oceans or near-coastal None Yes Yes. Master oceans or near-coastal, less than 200 GRT 6 months Yes Yes. Mate oceans or near-coastal, less than 200 GRT 12 months Yes Yes. 1 This column provides the minimum additional service required of the seafarer in order to meet the requirements of this section. 2 Complete any items in paragraph (a)(2) of this section not previously satisfied. 3 Complete any items in paragraph (a)(3) of this section not previously satisfied.

Sections it refers to

The plain-English explanation on this page was written with AI from the regulation text above and checked automatically before publishing: every quote appears in the text, every number comes from it, and a second model confirmed each statement adds nothing the text doesn't say. Regulation text current as of October 1, 2026. The regulation text governs. RegKnot is not affiliated with the U.S. Coast Guard.